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Raw Edge Circle Quilt

December 4, 2009

This is a easy quilt but a little more time consuming than some of my others. This finished quilt measured about 42″x 56″ give or take a couple inches. Its easy to make this whatever size you want…just cut more or less blocks. I used about 30 different fabrics for mine, but some of them were just one or two squares. Use a big variety, I would recommend no less than 10 different fabrics so laying the blocks out will be easier.

Cut 48 – 8″ squares from your background fabrics.

Cut 48 – 6.5″ squares from your circle fabrics.

Now using cardstock, trace a bowl or something that is about 6 1/8″ or 6 1/4″ in diameter. Cut out your circle.

Now you can place your template on your 6.5″ blocks and trace around the wrong side, I used a fabric marker but any light washable marker would work. After you’ve traced your template you can stack four or so squares to cut through at the same time to make it go faster, just make sure you pin them well.

Cut all 48 circles out this way until you have a nice little stack.

Now place one of your cut circles on an 8″ square. I eyeballed the middle of mine, but you can fold the 8″ block in half each way to find the middle if your really ambitious.

Then pin, and sew 1/4″ around the circle. Leave at least 1/4″ because the edges will fray!

I didn’t use any fusible material before I sewed my circles on and they went on just fine with no creases, just make sure you go semi- slow and pull the creases out as go.

Now repeat with all your blocks until each 8″ block has a circle sewn to it. The matching up of background fabric to circle fabric took me FOREVER!

Now cut your 8″ blocks in half each way. Again you can do 2 or more at a time to make it faster.

Now the fun part…..not really it takes forever. This part is optional, but as you can see through the first picture, on some of my squares you could see the background fabric showing through the circle fabric. So, I cut all the background bits out from behind the circle. I did it in front of the TV and in no time they were done.

Once you’ve got all those bad boys done you start arranging your blocks. I did this on my design wall ( piece of flannel pinned to the wall…fancy, I know ) and it took forever because there are so many small blocks. I just went row by row adding colors here and there, mainly concentrating on spacing out my bright reds and big prints so they weren’t all clumped.

Once you have them arranged how you like you can start sewing them together. I sewed them together as blocks like in the pictures below, and then sewed them together into rows.

And there you have it, once you get your blocks sewn together it will look like this:

Enjoy!

**And because I know I’ll get asked…the fabrics from this quilt were mostly from American Jane by Moda ( from the Wee Play & Building Blocks line which are discontinued…sorry!), some Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt, a couple squares by Amy Butler from her Lotus line which just was re-released, and a few other random fabrics.

** Also I’ve had questions about how the raw edges hold up. I’m not an expert but I have been told by someone who knows what they’re doing…that because these raw edges are cut on the bias into the circle shape, they won’t fray or unravel. After I washed this quilt I had no threads I had to cut that had unraveled, so I guess its true!

**I didn’t figure out the fabric requirements of this because I used so many (about 40 different) fabric prints. But off the top of my head I would say you need about 3-3.5 yards total for the top. Definitely don’t rely on that number, but its at least an estimate for ya.

A great tutorial . . . thanks for sharing. And so true, looks much more complicated than it is. What a wonderful way to use up bits and pieces of leftover fabric, if one chose to go that way. And if it is truly USED by a little one, it will never show any stains!

I love this! I can't wait to try it. I've been dreaming of circle quilts for a long time, but didn't want to do actual piecing (it looked to time consuming) so I'm very excited that you posted a tutorial!

duh – im such a stupid head!! i was trying all night to figure out how to do the circles squares so that they looked perfectly put together like yours!! i cant wait to try this..i think it may be my first real quilt!!

Thanks for posting! Like others have said, I thought it would be way harder then that. I have a few Christmas fat quarters that i wasn't really sure what to do with, but i think i might try a pillow to start with and see where I end up!

YOU ARE A GENIUS!!! I thought this was going to be curved piecing and sewing and WOAH!! I think I could do this! Did everthing always line up right?? It looks like it. I WANT ONE! Or maybe two or three! On my list, now to gather fabrics.

forgot to say – I think it's the perfect size for her… will fit toddler bed great with lots at the end to give a good tuck under the mattress to keep on the bed at night – and then later at school – it is a good size for taking for naptime ;)

I just love this quilt. I am logging this one in my "I want to make this quilt" file in my head. It would be perfect for one of my boys. They would love it and I would be happy every time I saw them snuggle up with it too. Hmm. You have me really wanting to make it. How come your list of things is so long when you find the best projects? I will put it on my blog so I don't forget about it or lose the pattern. Thank you for always sharing patterns. You make AMAZING things! I {heart} your blog!

Oh my goodness! I've been eying tons of circle-based quilts on flickr thinking, "oh, that would be too hard for a beginner like me", but with this tutorial, I think it will be plausible! Amazingly clear photos and instructions! Thank you!

I made this quilt a long time ago, such fun. It is also called "Bullseye". I used neutral fabrics in the background and then the rest of the colorful circle (bullseye) prints jumped vividly. The frayed edges on the circles really look nice too. Loved making this !!

I love it! I've made a few quilts in my time but I've always steered clear of circles because I was scared of piecing curves. This is perfect — a quilt with circles but no curves to piece! I might just have to try out the technique and make a quilt for my new twin nephews. Thanks!

wowee. wow. WOW. REALLY love this quilt and love the method. I have been shopping the design for my first quilt and this has just gone to the top of the list. It's beautiful, great job. Found you via Whip Up!

HI I loved this quilt. I had some old 9 patches I had not used yet. they were made from fabrics of the 60s and 70s. I also had a bunch of fat quarters I had not used up yet. So I cut the circles and sewed them to the 9 patches and cut in 1/4s and layed them out. Still laying the pieces out and will start sewing together this weekend. Loved the idea and I think it looks great. It created another pattern of 4 patches and it is crazy.

what did you trim the quilt with? and what did you put on the back and also did you add anything in between the back and front for extra warmth or no? Thank you so much for posting this! I'm having a baby this winter and am making this quilt for him or her!

Would this be too difficult to do with 4 inch circles? I have just discovered many, many circles already cut by my Granny and have been looking for something to do with them besides make 5,000 yo-yos. She already has at least 400 of those already done! :) Anyway, I love the exposed raw edges! Just wondering if Granny's circle size would make it too "fussy" to work with.

Ooh – I was pointed here by lovely ladies from the Melb quilt guild meeting yesterday. I'm tackling a similar one inspired by this. Any tips on how to sew the circles on neatly? I've trialled 2 but they're a bit puckery: I'm wondering if I should use my walking foot? Increase or decrease the foot pressure maybe?

I love this quilt! I made one for myself and posted it over on my blog herehttp://silverlilysews.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-baby-nellie-or-lil-nel.html if you want to see it. I must admit though I was wishing I still had a stash of American Jane Recess prints like yours used. LOVE your blog and love this tutorial!

thanks so much for the tutorial..I thought it would be harder from the first look…thinking this is going to be the traditional way Drunkard's Path…but you made it so easy and I want to Fast 5 back home to start right away…thanks

Finally able to dig into this project soon. I'm thinking of making a twin-size version of this. Am I right in assuming that the finished block size is 7" (start with 8" block and subtract 1/2" for the center seam and 1/2" for the size seam).

I did two of these "bullseye' quilts about 7 or 8 years ago in extra large twin to almost double bed sizes for my kids to take to college and they really did use them. They do fray a bit around the circle when washed and dried but in a good way. It doesn't hurt the quilt overall and makes it more cozy actually.

I swore I would not start another project till I got something done, oh well, I never expected to keep that promise. LOL Got my circle and squares cut out today!!! Sewing tomorrow. I invested in one of the circle cutters by Olfa and it works wonderful in cutting out all those circles.

Marsha (Quilter in Motion blog) mentioned this wonderful quilt in her Friday Finds today, and it is spectacular! I am toying with the idea of piecing a bunch of 4-patches, and then appliquing circles on them –It would be faster, but I would lose so much of the scrappiness! Your directions are clear and easy to follow.

I have a very old quilt top (approx. 65 years old) with this circle pattern, however, instead of a single corner piece, the maker used various scraps in a crazy fashion. The quilt top pieces are hand stitched together. When I got the top about 20 years ago, several of the seams were coming apart so I mended them. I added a border. I plan to have it quilted this year as a gift for one of my grandsons.

I just finished mine! It has taken me a few months because it was last on my priority list since it is actually my quilt and not for anyone else. I love it. Thank you for the tutorial, it was easy to follow.

[…] for my Scraptastic bee. Kristin had sent us two fabrics, asking for a raw edged circle square using this tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew. Kristin sent the green apple fabric and the red on red floral fabric. I decided […]

[…] “throw together”? It’s time to reward yourself by making a quick and simple quilt, like this Raw Edge Circle Quilt pattern from Allison Harris. The colorful version above is by Alex of Teaginny Designs. This […]